Friday 12th October 2018

Morgan EV3 development halted

British firm wants to "bolster" its EV team before integrating electric technology into the 3 Wheeler

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Development of the all-electric Morgan EV3 has been halted due to contractual disagreements with powertrain supplier, Frazer Nash. Morgan said that although it "remains committed to an electric future," it has shelved the EV3 project until it gains "more EV know-how inside [its] Malvern headquarters", suggesting more of the development could be brought in-house.

You'll remember that the British firm's first electric model was previewed in a concept back in 2015 before being evolved to prototype level the following year, along with a promise that a run of 19 cars would be produced in late 2018. But the company had expected Frazer Nash's supply of hardware to be simply integrated and quickly turned moved to "turn key" level.

Managing director Steve Morris told Autocar that "our current EV powertrain supplier is no longer able to fulfil the project within the terms of the contract", but no further explanation has been provided for the decision.

Meanwhile Frazer-Nash Energy Systems' managing director, Noamaan Siddiqui, agreed that the deal had failed "for a number of contractual reasons", but said that prototypes his company had built were "very promising". Part of the firm was recently liquidated, but, according to Companies House, it continues to operate with several new projects.

We therefore live in hope that a little more work will bring this cool open-air electric experience to market. Due with an expected 120-mile range, the EV3 mixes the latest electric technology with retro design and details. Until the project picks up pace again and sales eventually begin, though, we'll just have to make do with the pulsing, loud and oh-so-characterful V-twin motor version. Poor us...

[redroadster]

Make a more practical one with a roof like bubble cars of old b better seller larger market

[Nerdherder]

No big surprise that this project has been halted. Big part of the fun of the 3 wheeler is that big thumping V-twin, so, yeah.

redroadster said:

Make a more practical one with a roof like bubble cars of old b better seller larger market

Not sure if that niche is sizable enough.

Anyway, next to the 3 wheeled delivery van from Morgan's own back catalogue many experiments out there next to the well known Messerschmitt, Isetta etc:

Nobe Electric Three Wheeler (Still a concept)


R.H Griffin Three Wheeler (30's)


Framo Stromer (1933)

Edited by Nerdherder on Friday 12th October 12:53

Edited by Nerdherder on Friday 12th October 12:56

[Mikebentley]

The style of that Stromer would make a cool 3 wheeler for Morgan to make with the Aeromax rear end

[unsprung]

Nerdherder said:

No big surprise that this project has been halted. Big part of the fun of the 3 wheeler is that big thumping V-twin, so, yeah.

+1

a foolish project IMO; they should instead work on reducing the outrageous cost of the ICE version -- a vehicle which is both more logically correct and, arguably, more fun

Nerdherder said:

Nobe Electric Three Wheeler (Still a concept)

this retro concept has attracted a number of fans and, personally, I'd love to see loads of them round, especially in Europe's grand cities and smaller towns

unfortunately, however, the scent of hobby-playboy appears to be stronger here than an urgent plan to create change; this concept needs to pivot away from the self-conscious stylings of one man and get proper management and capital; it's all looking "typically European" at the moment I'm afraid

[simonrockman]

Oh, what a wasted opportunity.

Not the failure to progress the EV, but missing out on all the potential for puns in the story. "Morgan pulls plug on EV development", "The project ran out of juice", "not currently pursued". It's a Friday afternoon and just the time for puns.

Simon

[bertie]

That's such a shame, it's perfect for the EV treatment, I would've been very tempted

[Cold]

simonrockman said:

Oh, what a wasted opportunity.

Not the failure to progress the EV, but missing out on all the potential for puns in the story. "Morgan pulls plug on EV development", "The project ran out of juice", "not currently pursued". It's a Friday afternoon and just the time for puns.

Simon

Three wheeled EV idea falls flat.
Long lead times for rechargeable Morgan.
Morgan wants to charge new team with EV development.

[anonymous-user]

Hmm, the whole project was a bit of a bodge from start to finish. Hugely under funded and assuming you could just stick an electric motor and some batteries in and it would just work...........

[BlackandWhite]

I am saddened to hear this. Something genuinely different, a bit left field and sheer design delight in a sector that considers futuristic as a bland exercise in melting plastic. The short film introducing this thing to the world set light to a "want it" fire in me that refuses to die. It's the thing I most wanted to try before I die and now it's snuffed before me. R.I.P. EV3, I will mourn your premature demise.

[85Carrera]

bertie said:

That's such a shame, it's perfect for the EV treatment, I would've been very tempted

Not it’s not. Why on earth do you think it is?

[bertie]

85Carrera said:

Not it’s not. Why on earth do you think it is?

Because the 3 wheeler is the sort of car you take out for an hour on a sunny Sunday.

Range and practicality are not considerations, the instant torque of EV would be lovely

I’d have loved one

[saaby93]

It's one thing having a power train, where do you buy batteries?